Beverly Barefoot urges art buffs to give Frida a chance

King Magnus Barefoot ruled Norway from 1093 to 1103 and re-established Norwegian influence around the Irish Sea.

Beverly Barefoot isn't royalty or Norwegian. It's her married name. But hey, she is Irish.

And, while it was always rumored that the King enjoyed an oil painting or two mounted prominently on his ship, Beverly of Vallejo leans toward mixed media, which she'll feature at this coming weekend's Vallejo Open Studios.

The Nov. 10-11 annual event around the community is a joyous time for local artists, Barefoot said.

"I love putting the work out there and having people viewing it," she said. "That's what it's all about. Sharing your art. Otherwise, you're doing it in a bubble."

Barefoot moved from Marin County to Vallejo three years ago and has been a fixture at Coal Shed Studios on Mare Island for about a year.

And, she said, it couldn't be better.

"I have a studio in my home, but being out there (Coal Shed) is such a treat," Barefoot said. "It's such a great group of people. Very inspiring. This is where I belong."

The water view, added Barefoot, is tough to beat.

"It's the best," she said. "I'm a water person, so I enjoy it so much. It gives a whole different view of

Vallejo."

Barefoot figures some 55 of her pieces will be up for scrutiny at Open Studios, with 30 of those works an homage to Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.

"I've always had a fascination with her," Barefoot said. "Probably because she's an icon for women and female artists. I've been so inspired by her images."

Barefoot's done this art thing since 5 "when I wrote on a piece of paper and told my mother, 'I am an artist.' So I've been an artist all my life in some form," said Barefoot, who started her first business at 17 doing leatherwork.

It's not the start of a project or end that excites Barefoot, "it's the whole process," she said.

"I choose an image, usually out of the blue, and build around that," she said. "The whole process is totally exciting. The whole process is just, fun, fun, fun, and it sort of develops itself as it goes."

When the artwork is finished, "it's sort of sad 'cause you're done," Barefoot said. "What I do, I have several things going at once. I don't have an ending, I just jump around one piece to the next. It keeps the momentum going."

Barefoot believes everyone has an artistic side.

"It's about being open to the process," she said. "So many think, 'I'd love to be an artist' and I think so many are. They just don't put themselves on the edge and take the leap. There are a lot of people who put it on hold their entire lives. I hear that a lot."

Barefoot joins many others who have taken that artistic leap at Vallejo Open Studios, with roughly 85 artists involved in the community event.

"I do it for the exposure but I've been very lucky," Barefoot said. "Every Open Studio, I sell several pieces and have had repeat clients."

With less than a week until Open Studios, Barefoot is prepared.

"I'm ready to go and willing and able," she said.

If you go

What: Vallejo Open Studios, a free, self-guided tour

Who: 85 artists

When: Nov. 10-11, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Throughout Vallejo; artists directory available at many locations